Survivor

You can't teach an old dog new tricks -- especially when they're playing 'Survivor.' Last night's episode of 'Heroes vs. Villains' proved that old axiom beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Candice Woodcock, taking a page from her 'Cook Islands' playbook, flipped on her Heroes tribe. Meanwhile, Russell Hantz, spurred on by Parvati Shallow's secretiveness, summoned another immunity idol into his meaty little paws and Amanda Kimmel did what Amanda Kimmel always does -- played nice.

Bold moves. This 20th all-star season of 'Survivor' has been chock full of them and last night's episode of 'Heroes vs. Villains' was no exception. Fans witnessed one of the gutsiest plays of all time.

Last week, humble Hero John "J.T." Thomas handed off of his immunity idol to consummate Villain Russell Hantz, and the move backfired. Big time. And it led to the 'Survivor: Tocantins' winner being sent to join Courtney Yates and Benjamin "Coach" Wade on the jury.

(S20E10) This season of 'Survivor' isn't going quite how I expected. Of course, that could be a good thing. Although I'm basically a force for good (yes, really), on my reality shows I have to admire evil strategies and schemes when they're executed well. In my own reality, I don't care for mean people. But when you consider the types of folks going on competition reality shows, the nice people can get downright boring to watch. The schemers other than Evil Russell are just getting started. Hang on, folks. We may be in for a wild ride!

(S20E09) Oh my. JT looks a bit disturbed in this image from tonight's 'Survivor,' doesn't he? Did he crack another tooth? Not to be posting spoilers in the first paragraph, but I don't think we'll see JT cracking teeth and being a one-man war machine this season. We've seen his whacked-out game strategy for the season already. He went from the nice guy, loved and admired by all, and winner of his original season to ... I don't know.

His own tribe doesn't trust him to the point of Amanda declaring him the "slimiest" person on the tribe last week. He's flipped, he's flopped. But tonight he has an epiphany and a brilliant idea. We'll see just how brilliant it is soon enough.

9:00 to 10:00
CBS: 'CSI'
The CW: 'Supernatural' -- 100th episode
FOX: 'Fringe'
NBC: 'Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again' -- Two hours. Retrospective on the last 10 years of 'SNL'
A&E: 'The First 48'
HBO: 'Treme: Beyond Bourbon Street' -- Making of the new HBO series
National Geographic: 'Secret History of the Atom Bomb'
TLC: 'Police Women of Maricopa County'

(S20E08) This season should have been a slam-dunk for some of the more savvy castaways on 'Survivor.' Instead, we're seeing convoluted alliances and bad decisions. Some folks only thinking about their own end game without realizing they actually have to remain standing into the merge. First it was the heroes tribe in a losing streak, then a few challenges back, it all flipped and the villains did the very same thing, voting out Boston Rob and Tyson.

Why? Because they're getting rid of the strong players when they should be thinking about keeping their original tribes strong at this point. Will they continue the pattern until skeletal Courtney remains the sole 'Survivor'? Oh my. That would be such a waste of a season.

(S20E07) Colby Donaldson survived last week's tribal council on 'Survivor' only because James hurt his knee beyond hope for healing within the game's timeframe. Surrounded by those who want him out due to his lackadaisical efforts in challenges this season and being on the minor alliance, it's time for Colby to get playing the game. Heck, it's time for the entire heroes tribe to start playing.

JT isn't Mr. "I Broke My Tooth, Yet Kept Fighting" this season. Rupert has some sort of enhanced caveman rush into things, but has a broken toe and isn't really athletic. No one seems to be good with puzzles. What is going on here? The villains have been trouncing them at every turn. It's not just Colby who needs to step his game up. But he's the one on the hot seat due to the alliances. Can he do it?

(S20E06) I always hear the folks who don't watch 'Survivor' going on about how the castaways have it easy as far as real survival skills. Sure, being able to physically survive the elements and challenges is part of the show. But my own interest has always been more in the strategic angle. From the start with Richard Hatch, it's been shown time and time again that people manipulation skills can rule the game. Tonight was pure joy for me. It put me in my Happy Place. Why? Read on.

(S20E05) In the image above, it looks like James is surrounded by a bunch of schoolyard bullies on 'Survivor.' Well, he is surrounded, but things aren't always as they appear to be. The same can be said for the strategies of some of these all-so-great returning players, too. While some strategies remain consistent (a snake oil salesman isn't going to turn into the Avon lady), others are baffling me this season.

(S20E04) No, no, no. Coach, you have it all wrong! It's not a conspiracy against you, trust me. It's you. I made a mistake last week when I commented how much less a wuss Coach was being this season on 'Survivor.' I spoke too soon. Tonight we (and Boston Rob and Tyson) had to witness his latest "I'm sensitive, the world is against me, woe is me" escapade. The man makes a mockery of himself, then goes all emotional when he gets mocked. He's a legend in his own mind, a special snowflake to the rest of us.

(S20E03) How's that for a look of determination on Colby? Last week we saw the 'Survivor' heroes down two challenges. We also have seen some non-heroic behavior in their camp while Boston Rob has been quite heroic in the villains' camp. This season, although it's definitely grabbing my attention, has gone beyond the realm of heroes and villains. It's more like a bunch of power-players, wheeler dealers, schemers, lunatics, and a few decent folks gone a tad off their rockers thrown into the mix. It's All-Stars on energy drinks. It's brutal. But it's entertaining. That's all I need.

(S20E02) Well, well, well. It seems that Black Widow Jerri Manthey actually does have a tender side on tonight's 'Survivor.' No, she isn't coming on to Boston Rob. Nor has she murdered him, if that might be your concern. As seen on the promos all week, Rob had a bit of a rough time, thus giving the episode its title for the week. And, might I add, so dramatically said that one might think he'll be up for an acting Emmy. Was it an act? Is he still there or gone? Read on.

When CBS threw their tenth-anniversary party for 'Survivor' last month during the TCA press tour, there was only one person I wanted to talk to: Richard Hatch. And there was only one reason I wanted to talk to him: Someone claiming to be him sent us an e-mail comment in response to a post Allison did in October; Allison basically told him to stop airing public comments regarding the incident that sent him back to jail last summer.

If you recall, he gave an interview with 'Today' and two other NBC properties last August; he was sent back to jail because he was supposedly only given permission to talk to 'Today.'

In the note to us, the person -- who we're pretty sure was Hatch, based on some digging we did after the note came in -- claims that the system is "broken" and that he doesn't owe any back taxes, something Hatch has said in public a number of times.

So, I decided to ask him about whether he liked sending websites e-mails like that, then we talked a little about the case.

(S20E01) We've already had epic hype for an epic season of 'Survivor.' More intense than a typical 'All-Stars' version, this season pits the (supposedly) best of good and evil in a battle to be the sole survivor. It's kind of like the Stephen King novel, 'The Stand.' Forces for good and evil, perhaps with a few shades of gray in-between, ready to duke it out for the win. Well, I could see Evil Russell being Randall Flagg, can't you? The casting is right for both sides. I would have liked to see Richard Hatch and Yau-Man Chan in there, but it wasn't my decision to make. I'm just a witness to the chaos.

When 'Survivor' host Jeff Probst renews his contract, it's usually for two years (which comes out to be four seasons of the show). But when he renewed his contract with CBS and the show last week, he only renewed it for one year (two seasons). I'm not sure if this is because he doesn't want to commit to several seasons of the show or if it's a negotiating/contract thing. Could 'Survivor' continue without Probst as host? Or is he too big a part of the show?